Medal will motivate me to bigger things: Saina Nehwal

New Delhi -  India’s Olympic bronze medallist Saina Nehwal on Friday said her medal at the London Games would motivate her to attain greater heights in badminton.

At a ceremony organised here by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and Samsung India to felicitate the 2012 Olympic medallists, she said she wanted to bring more laurels to the country and do one better in Rio four years from now.

“This medal will provide me with the motivation to do bigger things. When I play in the next Olympics I don’t have the pressure of not winning a medal and that would lessen the burden,” Saina said.

“I hope I stay fit and bring more glory to my country. I have a few tournaments coming up, I will concentrate on doing well there first.”

Saina said she had still to overcome the Chinese barrier and the challenges would be much tougher in the days to come.

“In London I beat one Chinese and lost to one. There were only four Chinese in the Olympics while in the super series and other tournaments there would be close to 10 of them, so there are tougher days ahead.”

Also present at the ceremony, bronze medallist shooter Gagan Narang said his aim was also to carry on till the next Olympics and bring home a medal of a different hue.

“I am extremely happy. I narrowly missed out on a medal in Beijing and I had my own demons to overcome. I have finally done that.

“But this is just the starting point for me. I am looking forward to Rio. Hopefully we can hear the national anthem the next time I am on the podium,” said a beaming Narang.

Other medallists Sushil Kumar (silver, wrestling), Vijay Kumar (silver, shooting), M.C. Mary Kom (bronze, boxing) and Yogeshwar Dutt (bronze, wrestling) also made an appearance. The two silver medallists were given a cash award of Rs.15 lakh each while the bronze winners were given Rs.10 lakh each.